THE RIGHT KIND OF TRAINING

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 255, 28 October 1942, Page 2

THE RIGHT KIND OF TRAINING

/"VNE of the greatest causes of complaint in military camps has been monotony, too much "parade ground stuff," not enough field exercises or training under the conditions likely to be met with in combat. That complaint went completely overboard during the just concluded battle of the Kalmais, when the troops engaged were called upon to use to the full the knowledge of battle tactics which they had acquired in their earlier training, to force their way through bush and jungle in the face of an alert enemy, and generally to fight and manoeuvre exactly as they would if called upon to undertake actual warfare under the conditions likely to be met with in the islands of the Pacific. The men fought with a knowledge of the purpose and scope of the operations and, thus enabled to take an intelligent interest in all that they were doing, they were infused by an enthusiasm that not even the most adverse ground and sky conditions could quench. They tested out their equipment, their knowledge of battle tactics, their supply problems and their individual initiative in reaching the objectives set before them and at the same time greatly extended their knowledge of how fast and how far they could hope to advance and still keep contact with their supplies. They learned how to endure cold, discomfort and hardship on the field, how to co-operate with other arms of the service, and generally how to apply to the fullest advantage all that they had learned Of the making of a soldier. The company officers had in many cases their first experience of aerial co-operation—their first opportunity of learning with what speed the air arm could attack any special objective a .® ked t( ? deal with. They know now how prompt and effective that aid can be, and when under active service conditions will he able to estimate just what value aerial reconnaissance or bombing will be to them. Altogether it was a very valuable week to all concerned, and its lessons will add greatly to the fighting quality of the forces engaged. Major-General Barrowclough, who directed the operation* has had experience of actual warfare/and his direction of the campaign under actuai field conditions gave both officers and men an understanding of field operations far beyond anything which they had The .u act ' to °- that the campaign was described J / ss Save the general public a reasonable acquaintance with the class of work their sons and brothers are called upon to do Sdal'l u2K^ as S ke| e of°t f hem? lr """ hOW